A rent control meeting that turned violent in Alameda now has city officials calling for change in the way people are heard. Cheryl Hurd reports. (Published Friday, Nov. 6, 2015)

A rent control meeting that turned violent in Alameda now has city officials calling for change in the way people are heard.

The special meeting late Wednesday to discuss rising rents and a possible moratorium on rate increases erupted in chaos, resulting in the arrest of two men after they attempted to force their way into city council chambers. In addition, the assistant city manager was injured in the scuffle and hospitalized.

Spencer does not think Alameda police used excessive force and feels it was an unfortunate incident for a very real problem: skyrocketing rents in the small East Bay city.

"Rents in Alameda have risen over 50 percent over the last four years," said Catherine Pauling, Alameda Rent Coalition spokesperson. "An 8 percent rent increase may not sound like much, but an extra $100 a month when you're already at the water line, you're choosing between heat, you're choosing between food in order to keep a roof over your head."